Ford Recalls 1.1 Million Cars, Utility Vehicles

Ford Motor Co. said Thursday that it launched a safety recall of 1.1 million vehicles in the United States and Canada, including 13,000 of its hot-selling Lincoln Navigator full-size sport-utility vehicle, introduced in June.

Ford said a transmission shift cable in some of the vehicles may detach from a steering column bracket fitting and cause problems shifting gears.

The recall affects 973,000 1997 and 1998 full-size pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles, among them, F-150 and F-250 pickup trucks and the Expedition sport-utility, in its second recall. The Expedition is a popular issue that went on sale in September 1996. About 74,000 of the vehicles are in Canada.

Ford also recalled 69,100 1995 Ford Escort and Mercury Tracers for possible fuel tank cracks, and it called back 3,600 1994 to 1997 F-700 trucks with 7.0-liter diesel or gasoline engines for wiring concerns. About 120 of the trucks are in Canada.

In addition, Ford recalled 2,600 1992 to 1995 medium-duty trucks and buses with 5.9-liter diesel engines to replace an accelerator part.

Ford said it recalled 2,300 1996 Ford Explorer and 1997 Mercury Mountaineer sport-utility vehicles because undersized welds may cause the lift gate to fall.

Finally, about 700 1994 L-Series trucks, 100 of which are in Canada, are being recalled to fix a possible leak in the air-brake reservoir.

Ford said it has not received any reports of accidents related to the recall vehicles. All work to remedy the problems will be completed for free, the company said.

Ford’s stock lost $1.75 to close at $43.88 on the New York Stock Exchange.